Casting machine



Jan. 23, 1940. E, G, DAvls l 2,188,276

CASTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 23, 1940. E G, DAQ/.s 2,188,276

CASTING MACHINE Filed oct. 13, 1937 9 sheets-sheet 2 Inverti/L07' Jan. 23, 1940. E. G. DAvls 2,188,276

CASTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1957. 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 AZ rneys Jan. 23, 1940.v

E. c-st DAvls CASTING MACHINE Filed ot.` 1s, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Invewar l fI @l A rn/eys Jan. 23, 41940.

E. G. DAvls CASTING MACHINE Filed OC-t. 13, 1937 9 sheets-sheet 5 Iwvewzm w Iii rneys JW/W v m n Jan. 23, 1940. Ets'. DAVIS 2,18

CASTING MACHINE Filed Oct.' 13, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet l` Jan. 23, 1 940. E. G. DAvls CASTING MACHINE Filed oct. 1:5, 1937 9. Sheets-Sheet AZ orneys Jan. 23, 1940. E. G. Avis 2,188,276

CASTING MACHINE Filed oct. 15, 1957" 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 lavan/E07 Patented Jan. 323, 194@ 2,188,276 CASTING MAonrNE Espy G. Davis, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Na.- tional Battery Company, a corporation of Dela- Wale Appiicaacn october 13, 193i, serial Nc. icsnsi 16 Claims.

This invention rentes to a machine for automatically molding and collecting thin, soit metal castings, such as the grids for storage batteries.

The present day demand for small, compact bat- 5 teries of large capacity has necessitated the use of extremely thin plates and' has increased the difilcultiesattendant upon the casting of the grids on which the active material is pasted or formed. Such grids are very fragile and consist T largely of small filaments of metal which adhere to the mold making rapid ejection Vfrom the mold and subsequent handling in hot pliable condition diiiicult. Even with the greatest care in the construction of the casting machine, some of the '35 grids catch in the mold and unless this is detected and operation of the machine stopped quickly, serious delay and occasional damage to the machine result.

The several principal objects of this invention .20 are the following: 1. To increase the rate of operation of a ma- -30 operating mechanisms that both may be stopped instantaneously in an emergency.

3. To provide stop mechanism which becomes loperative whenever a grid is unduly-retarded in the mold to rarrest thel pouring `mechanism until 35 the mold hasbeen cleared of the obstructing grid.

4. To provide a novel device for supplyingA measured quantities of molten metal to the mold,

said device -being so constructed and arranged 404 that it retains the advantages of hand pouring from a-dipper or ladle while speeding up the operation and securing improved uniformity and accuracy in pouring and-better distribution in the mold, as compared to hand pouring and other 45 automatic pouring devices known to me.

5. To provide a casting machine which is adapted to be quickly and easily adjusted to make grids of different sizes, the adjustments includo ing changes in the speed of operation to correspond to variations in the time required for cooling grids of different sizes.

6. To provide mold operating mechanism which has the advantages of rapid operation and secure g locking in closed position with relativelygradual closing movement such that the impact of the mold on closing is reduced to a minimum.

7. To provide novel mechanism for carrying the grids away from the mold and collecting them l in a group whereby more positive inter-engagement oi the mechanism with the grids is secured and interruptions caused by obstructing grids are guarded against.

8. To reduce interruptions in the operation ofh the machine by providing mechanism for starting' l0 the machine automatically in case of delay in the delivery of a grid from the mold to the collecting or conveying mechanism for the grids..

Other objects will appear and be more 4fully pointed out in the following specication and-15 claims.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of what may be called the back of my'improved machine; 20

Flg.. 2 is an elevation of the mold side of the same; 4,

, Fig. 3 'is an elevation of the front or control side;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary,` part elevation and part section on 'a larger scale, showing the mechanism for arresting the operation of the metal pouring device, as seen from the left of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6`is a section taken on the line 6-6 of. 30 Fig.' 1;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 vis a part side elevation and part section on a larger scale showing the pouring device and associated parts; p

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section showing details of the grid conveyor;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, part lside elevation and part section showing the stop mechanism for the V pouring device;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section through one of the s over-load clutches;

Fig. 12 shows the eccentric and crank drive for the pouring mechanism;` Figs. 13, 14 and 15 illustrate details of the valve operating mechanism, the latter being a section taken on the line I5-I5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 1,6 is a side elevation of one of the cast-A ings before trimming;V4

Fig. 17 is a side view of the mechanism for checking and straightening the grids upontheir ejection from the mold;-

Fig. 18 is a' front elevation of the valve for conf. 55

trolling the mold actuating mechanism, with the cover removed, and

Fig. 19 is a central vertical section through the valve and cover, taken on the line |9-I9 of Fig. 18.

Referring to the drawings,` a suitable metal for forming the grids or other castings is reduced to molten condition in a furnace of common type having a melting pot 20. Measured quantities of molten metal are carried by a ladle 2| (Fig. 8) and are poured into an opening at the top of a mold comprising a fixed member 22 and a movable member 23. The member 23 is moved to and from closed position by mechanism hereinafter described and during 'each cycle of operation when the member 23 is in open position a casting, such as that shown in Fig. 16, is ejected from the mold. As shown in Fig. 16, the casting comprises a pair of the grids 24 each of which has a projecting lug 25. When the casting falls from the mold it is inverted so that the lugs 25 project horizontally from the bottom edge. In the normal operation, the casting falls'to a chute 26 (Fig. 7) beneath the mold and slides along the chute to a point where the lugs 25 are in the path of a pair of fingers 21 severally secured to conveyor 'chains 28. These chains operate in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7 and the fingers 21 slide the lugs 25 along a pair of rails 29. 'Ihe conveyor chains 28 are continuously operated to collect the castings' in such position that they are suspended from their lugs, as `indicated in dotted lines at the right of Fig. 7, the rear or trailing edges of the grids being guided along the smooth surface of the chute 26.

The operating mechanism for the ladle 2| is preferably mounted on the melting pot 26 and the several mechanisms for operating the mold Mold operating mechanism An electric motor 32 is mounted on the frame 36 and drives a belt 33 trained on a pulley 34 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4). The latter is secured to a shaft which is operatively connected to a shaft 35 through suitable' speed reducing mechanism in a housing 36. The shaft 35 extends across the frame 30 having a suitable bearing at the control side of themachine. As best shown in Figs. 3, i3 and 14 the shaft 35` has fixed on its end at the outer face of this bearing a head 31. Mounted on the outer face of the head 31 is a disk 38 which is free for limited rotary movement relative to the head 31 as more fully'described hereinafter under the caption "Controls and operation,

Fixed on thedisk 38 and projecting into a peripheral recess 39 in the head 311s apin 48 adapted lto transmit rotary motion from said' headto' said disk. A valve operating link 4| has onefendpivotally connected to the disk 38 and the othie end joinedto` a short crank 42 fixed on a valve 'shaftv '43.y 'Oscillating movement is imparted valve shaft and controls therefor are provided as hereinafter described. The shaft 43 extends tof the back of the machine vto Operaieaave fixed on the frame 30m horizontal position and has a piston connected to a toothed rack 48 mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement on a guide or Way 50.. The teeth of the rack 48 mesh with the teeth of a gear 5| secured to a horizontal shaft 52 mounted in bearings on the frame 30. As best shown in Figs. l and 4, cranks 53 are secured to the shaft 52 and connectedby arms 54 to a mold carriage 55. This` carriage has the mold member 23 removably secured thereto and -is supported on a pair of arms 56 having pivotal supports 51 near the bottom of the frame 36 (Figs. 1 and 6).

Grid ejecting mechanism secured centrally to the plate 58 and projects 25 from the back'of the mold carriage 55 to be struck by a hammer 6|. This hammer is pivotally supported on au small bracket 62 fastened to the bottom of the carriage and is urged toward the stud by springs 63 as shown in Fig. 4. To operate the hammer 6| against the tension of the springs 63, I provide a dog 64 mounted on an end of an arm 65. One end of the arm 65 is` pivotally joined to a crank 66 fixed on the shaft 52 in such manner .that the point of connection with the crank moves in an arc of greater radius than the points of connection of the mold oper-` ating arms 54 with the cranks 53. In this manner the dog 64 on the arm 65 is caused to oscillate with somewhat greateramplitude than the carriage 55. An end 61 of the'arm 65 projects from 'the crank 66 to engage a pendant finger 68 mounted on the frame 30. By the mechanism described, the crank 66 moves the end 61 of the arm 65 to engage the lower end of the finger 68 as this crank approaches the .outward extremity of its movement in such manner that the dogv 64 is raised from engagement with the hammer 6|. This permits the springs 63 to'actuate the hammer sharply against the stud 60 which in turn actuates the several pins 59 through the plate 66 to eject a grid from the mold when the lattefis in its fully open .position indicated in dotted lines in'Fig. '1. The finger 66 is pivoted so that it is free' to swing to its" dotted line position after its end 61 with the finger 6 8 as hereinbefore described.

Automatc check mechanism andi safety device I Upon the ejection ofy a casting, in the normall operation, it falls from the open mold to the chute ate a valve 4.4 adapted to be supplied with air or other fluid underfpressure'from a pipe 45. The l,

valve is also "conected'by-'pipes 46 and 41 to opposite ends cfa; cylinder 48,. 4This cylinder is 26, so that its lower edge rests on a pair-of arms- 18. The lfall of the casting is checked and its lower edge is straightened on the arms 10 by a 'I movable check plate 1| (Figs. 7 and 17). This plate is fastened to a pair of arms 12 having a pivotal support 13 on lthe frame. The arms 12 are connected by a link 14 to the arms 56 supporting the carriage 55, the link 14 being arranged to raise the plate 1| out of the path of the casting as the' mold closes and to cause the lower edge of said plate to rest on the'chute 26 when the mold is in open position. An elongated slot 14a in the link 14v is provided for engagement with a pin 14h connecting the arms 12 to the arms 56 to allow the plate 1| to dwell in its lower position (Fig. 17) while checking the fall of a casting.

The arms 'l0v are so connected to the pouring device that theoperation of the latter is normally interrupted unless both of the arms are depressed, as by the weight of a properlyI positioned casting thereon. The mechanism for accomplishing this is best shown in Figs. 5, 'l and 10. As shown in Fig. 5 the arms 10 are fixed on the ends respectively of shafts 16 and 11, these shafts being disposed in alignment with each other and having suitable bearings in the frame and in a sleeve 18 engaging the adjacent ends of the shafts. Cranks 19 and 80 are secured to the shafts 18 and 11 respectively and are connected to opposite ends of a lever 8| pivoted at its central point on a pin 82 supporting it on the upper end of a substantially vertical link 83. This link is joined at its lower end to a lever 84 `pivoted on a pin 85 (Figs. '7 and 10) and having one end supported on a spring 86. A bracket' 81 projects from the machine frame to support the spring 88. A rock shaft 88 is operatively connected to the pouring device, as hereinafter described, and a pair of lugs 89 are rigidly fastened to theshaft to engage a stop pin 90 mounted on the lever 84. -The pin 90 is guided for limited horizontal movement in a slot 9| formed in the lever 84 and is urged toward the pivot pin' 85 by a spring 92 Aconfined in a recess extending in from the end of the lever. As best shown in Fig. 5, a pair of the lugs 89 are provided on the shaft 88 to project at opposite sides of the lever 84 and engage the ends of the pin 90 which project from the lever.

When a casting falls to proper position on the arms 10 the lever 84 is moved down against the action of the spring 86`and carries the pin 90 out of the pathof the lugs 89. This allows the shaft 88 to rock in the direction necessary for the .pouringoperation. If neither or one only of the arms --10 are depressed, the lever 84 is retained I'in its evident that both of the arms 10 are 'normally depressed only by a properly straightened casting which has been entirely ejected from'the mold. i

Manuallyr` operable means for rendering the safety vdevice inoperative is also provided andcomprises a lever 93 for turning a shaft 94 upon which is fixed a cam 95 (Figs. 5 and 'lL-The lever 93 may be duplicated'at the back, as well as at the front or control' side of the machine, asindicated in Fig. 5. The' cam 95 is arranged `to actuate an arm 96 which projects from the lever 84 beyond the l shaft 85. The shaft 94 is` merelyC turned'to raise the'ar'm 96 and thereby move the pin 90 out of the path of the lugs 89 when it i's desired to render the safety' device inoperative, as in starting the machine.

Metal pouring mechanism i To'operate the metal pouring mechanism, I provide an eccentric 91 (Figs. 1,' 6 and l2), on the shaft 35. This eccentric is so connected yto a crank 9,8 fixed on a shaft 99 .that the latter is' normally oscillated through an angle of approximately 60 degrees. The shaft 99 is mounted in axial alignment with the shaft 88 and the adjoining ends of these shafts are operatively connected together by an overload clutch indicated generally by the numeral |00 and shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 1l. The clutch -comprises a hollow cylindrical member |0| xed on the shaft 99, an inner member |02 fixed on the shaft 88 and a series of spring pressed 'balls |03 carried by the member |02 andarranged to engage in` shallow recessesvin the member |0|. Th'e balls |03 are spaced 120 degrees apart in radially disposed recesses each of which contains a spring for pressing the ball into a recess in the member |0I, the radii of the balls being 'greater than the depth of the recesses. This clutch allows the shaft 99 to continue its oscillating movement when the shaft 88 is stopped by engagement of the lugs 89 with the pin 90.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the shaft as projects from the control side of the machine and has a sprocket wheel |04 secured thereto to drive a chain |05 trained on a smaller sprocket' wheel |06. The latter is secured to a rock shaft |01 to oscillate the same through an angle of approximately 165 degrees, as indicated in Fig. 8. The shaft |01 has a bearing |08 in an auxiliary frame member |09 secured to the leadI pot 20. Secured to an end ofthe shaft |01 is an arm ||0 which is pivotally connected to a hanger member |||k for supporting the ladle 2|. Another hanger member I2 is suspended in spaced parallelrelation to the member on cross rods ||3 and ||4. To support the latter rod, a pair of arms ||5 are pivotally connected thereto and are iixed on asupporting shaft ||6 which is free to oscillate in bearings in the upper end of the frame member |09 and in a parallel frame member ||1 (Fig. 6). rigidly secured thereto and this arm carries a counterweight I9 ladapted to be adjusted thereon arms and ||2."

A The ladle 2| has pivot pins |20 connecting its ends to the hanger members and ||2 respectively and is adapted to be tilted at 'the end of its feeding stroke by engagement with a pin |2| projecting from an adjustable support |22. This support is pivotally mounted on a bracket |23 (Fig. 6) to permit adjustment of the pin |2| to engage ladies 2| of various lengths corresponding The shaft ||6 has an arm I|8 to compensate for the load carried by thehanger to the lengths of the grids to be poured. By the mechanism described, the ladle 2| is oscillated between its dotted and full line positions shownv swung toward the mold until the ladle strikes 'the pin |2| which tilts it and empties the charge into the opening in the top of the mold, as indicated in full lines in Fig? 8. The length of ladle is sub- V- stantiallyequal to the width of the casting, horizontally,. and the metal flows from the discharge side of the ladle in a correspondingly wide stream y 'f of uniform depth so that there is a quick, direct anduniform transfer of metal for the several castings.

The pouring operation is stopped with the ladle 2| above the lead pot when oscillation of the shaft 88 is interrupted by engagement of the lugs 89 with the pin 90. Thereafter, continued oscillation of the shaft99 causes the overload clutch |00 to release the shaft 88. 'As the oscillation of the shaft 99 is of smaller amplitude than the angular distance between adjacent balls |03, the timing of the pouring operation cannot get out of proper synchronism with the opening and closing of the mold. Y

'Grid conveying and collecting mechanism As best shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 9, each of the theconveyor chains 28 is trained on sprocket wheels |24, |25 and |26. The sprocket wheels |24 are secured to a drive shaft |21 which is driven by a small sprocket wheel |28. A chain |29 drives the sprocket wheel |28 and is driven by a sprocket wheel |30 fixed on theshaft 35 (Figs. 6, 7 and 14).

The sprocket wheels |25 are freely revoluble on a shaft 3| which may be turned in bearings in the frame (see Figs. 6 and 9.). Threads are formed von the shaft |3| to engage threaded sleeves |32 having cylindrical outer surfaces on which the sprocket wheel |25 are free to rotate.

The threads on the` sha t |3| at their opposite ends are respectively right and lefthand so thatwhen said shaft isturned in the frame it moves the sleeves |32 carrying the sprocket wheels |25 to or from each other to thereby adjust the spacing of the chainsr28 carrying the lugs 21 (Fig. 9) Knurled heads |33 are fixed on the ends of the shaft l| 3| to'facilitate turning.

The rails 29 are also madeadjustable tra versely by supporting them on guide plates |34 suspended from the threaded sleeves |32 and shaft |21, hanger bars |35 being provided for this l purpose. A'I'1ie-`driving sprocket wheels |24 are secured to the shaft |21 by set screws which may be loosened to permit sliding adjustment' of these wheels to or from each other along the shaft |21.

As shown in Fig. 9, the fingers 21 project between and are guarded by the rails 29 and-plates |34 and the -castings are positively advanced along the rails |29 and between the plates |34 at opposite sides of the machine respectively. By this arrangement, I insure positive clearing of the passage leading away from the mold even in cases where the castings tend to jam or become caught. My arrangement of downwardly projecting ngers 21 and chains 28 moving along and near the chute 26 at the receiving end of the conveyor is an important feature of the' convey-l rails29. The castings are thus collected in a group, as indicated in Fig. 7, wherein they are suspended in vertical, parallel planes to which position they fall as soon as their` trailing edges are free of the diverging chute 26. An attendant merely removes the grids from near the delivery end of thelrails 29.

Controls and operation.

As hereinbefore'stated, the operation of opening and closing the mold isunder control of the valve -44 which admits fluid under pressure to the cylinder 48 and also opens the exhaust passages to alternately communicate with opposite ends of the cylinder. A suitable arrangement of ports and closure member is shown in Figs. 18 and 19 in which the numeral |38 indicates the port in communication with the pipe 46, |39 is the port in communication with the pipe 41, |40 is the exhaust passage and |4| is a passage in communication with the fluid supply pipe 45. A cylindrical member |42 of the valve 44 is keyed to an end of the shaft 43 and is formed with a passage |4|a in continuous communication with the passage |4|. The member |42 is also formed with passages |43 and |44 adapted, when the member |42 is oscillated, to communicate respectively and alternately with the ports |38 and |39. A recess |40a in the member |42 is continuously in communication with the exhaust passage |40 and extends in an arc so that when the member |42 is oscillated the ports |38 and |39 are alternately placed in communication with the exhaust passage |40. The cylindrical member |42 is spaced from the valve casing, as shown in Fig. 19, to provide a chamber |4|b supplied with uid under pressure through the passages |4| and |4|a. This chamber communicates with the passages |43 and |44.

The shaft 43 is rocked through a total angle of about 40 degrees or to and from positions 20 degrees in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions from the central position shown in Figs. 18

and 19. When moved clockwise from the illustrated position, the passage |43 suppliesfiluid 4under pressure from the chamber |4|b to `the pipe 46 through port |38 while fluid is exhausted sage |44 and port |39, and fluid is simultaneously exhausted throughthe pipe 46, port |38, recess |a and passage |40, to open the mold.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 15, the valve operating shaft 43 has secured thereto a head |45 carrying a dog |46 which engages a stop |41 to limit turning movement of the shaft in one direction. This dog and stop are mounted adjacent to the frame at the rear of the machine and near the opposite end of the shaft 43 a crank |48 is secured thereto. The outer endof this crank has a coiled spring |49 attached to it to press the dog |46 against the stop 41. An end of the spring |49 is attached to the frame, as shown in Fig. 7. Se-

cured to the shaft 43 adjacent to the front ofthe v frame is a head formed with a tooth |50 adapted f to engage a shoulder on a lever |5|. This lever I is freely pivoted on a pin |52 attached to they frame of the machine in position to permit oscillating movement of the lever to and from engagement with the tooth |50. lAs hereinbefore described, the crank 42 is also secured to the shaft `43 and 'an end of the crank. hasa handle |53 projecting therefrom through an elongated slot |54 formed in the link 4|.

'I'his link is oscil' lated through its connection with the disk 38' t similarfto the clutch iMi'but 'locatediat the june; n

to cause the mold member 23 toibe held E.in'close'd position, withthe 'dog 4|46 engaging thestop bar 1 I I1. When lthe valve is -fln this position 'the crank l2 vis in lits do'tte'd -lixie position indicated 'by the lnumeral '42a 'f in `lFig. '13. When 'the fmold member 23 is in `its "open position, the crank l2 may 7be in `either the full lline position shown in 13 'or in the ldotted line position "42h, "depending on whether the -crank yis actuated manually or by 'power applied tothe link Il. ',Assuming'that the fmold is closed, the plate f3! Irotating 'in a "clock- 'wise-direction (Fig.'13) islidesltheflinkfll obliquely Vdownward relative =to `the 'h'aniiie |53 ntil vthe upper end of the fslot |54 strikes fthe shank o f Ai'l'ie handle. `F'ilrthe'r downwardmov'eme'nt 'of the linkll 4agtuates the 'handle and 'crank "l2 until the latter reaches itsdotted `line position "42h, This lfoperis vthe mold fand vthe 'electing `mechanism operates to remove fthe V'ca'.sting from the mold, whereupon 'continued rotation of `the head 31 `actuates 'the plate 3 ,by"means or ythe pin 4I), `to and across the dead center vposition Vat the lower extremity of 'the 'stroke of lthe link 4|.

When Ithe -handie |53 A.passes 'this position the spring v|49 actuates the valve" to close `the mold.

quickly while the pini!! moves freelyin the recess .33 inthe head 31 'and the vcranio 'carrying the vhandle |53 is -actuate'dto its dotted line position `42a. During the succeedingportionof-each cycle Vward to 'its full `line i-p'o'sition shown in Fig. 13,

lwhereupon lthe 'shoulder son the I lever 1|5| drops in to engagement *with 1'the Yislog |50 `to ylock 'the valve -in .such 'position `ras to 'hold the vmold open.

'It will'be evident that when (the :mold fis thus opened manually thehandie v|53 ismoved downward to la po'sition I"slightly-below ftha't -to which it 'is actuated in the normal operation of the -imachine so tha'tfduring *the `flatter the locking lever "|5| "does not 'drop into engagement with r`the dog if". To 'unlock l'the mold. "the free end =lof 'the :lever 5| -is merelyraised. Thereafter the motor fdriven shaft '35 a'c'tuates the *valve A"M,- l:through "the 1connectionsrdescribed. in 'timed rela- .tion "to ithe casting -conveyor land as this 4valve `controls rvtifiefmovelnent v of fthe vmold fto A'and from fated fin fproper `synchronism with fetch other.

VIn'the normal 'operationof'the machinea cast- Aing iffalls on the :farms lf'so as Ito a'ctuate the lever lugs IL This lallows "the pouring device rto deliver the jm'olten `metal fior the next Vfeasting 'after the closing of lthe imol'd. "The fsp'ring "32 allows ithe, .'pinil 'to move in ltl'ie l`slot i35| under '-tlhe -of'the lugs'l iin the `event :of th'estopiplmfofithe pouring device. vBy this fdetail yof construction@ Ybrief interval or time is allowed for podtioningfof fthe casting fon the -iai'ms v"Il fs'o tha't the 4operitftiorl of rthe Afn'i'achin'ejis not interrupted fdu'e'fto fslig'nt :delays fof ftn'is 'fkind.

`protect ltl-'ie machine 'against `lci'reakage `in case or 'obstruction tof fany ofthe moving parts, I fan "Ov'rll'od A"clutch 1? all respects 'tion offthesfhalft with the speed reducing gears finthefcasing (Figs. 2 and l6).

Asfbestshowninfli'igsl 1andi2, thepillle'y |55 which drives lthe, icelt v`v33 iis `of -the type described 'n yPatientNO. y2,050,358 "dated ll'gust l1?1, 11936 `'havingspri'ng Spressed, conical members engaging opposite side edges "of the 'belt 33 `lso 'that Ithe belt may 'be 'adjusted 'to and from `the axis of the motor shaft, Lmerely by changing the `terision 'on the belt, to 'change 'the driving fspeed f'oijratio. The motor A-32 is secured by suitable `brackets to a -veticals'haft |51 fand 'this-shaft liasathreaded 'ju's'id to valy 'the Ytension "on Ethe belt 33 'and corresponding drivingi'ratio fof thedrive'n pulley 134. 'rre facilitate turning the shaft ls-i ga :manuallyoperalile 'crank |60 lis'i'ormed onfth'eupp'er end thereof. "The rate of operation of the ma-f chine may-`thils be varied between 'the limits "required for -allowing grids of various sizes lto fsolidi'fyin themold.

The electric motor 32 fis lconnected in "electric p circuits which `include 'a pair of fswitc'he's 18| yhavingpilsh 'buttons located within convenient vreach of an` operatorpositionedlatieither the `front -orba'ck oflthe'imaohine. `Amarilla] control val-ve |62 for thecylinder 4B is provided toj'facili'tat'e adjustments Lol `the machine -in vpreparing lit jfor y automatic operation. 'A lubricant l*is fed to the cylinderbyfa'suitablepumpdevice 153.

- Having rdescrlbed fm-y iinvention, 'what 4"claim as newan'd 'desirefto protect by lIifetters Patent is'z 1. In :fa tasting 'machine havlngfa molli-adapted to opened for there'xnoval of etl'i'e castings tand a valyeffor controllirigtthe opening andelos- "ing of said fmold, the'combinationof Yafroek"shaft ffor operating-said Avalve, Lafcrank on said f'shaft, a vlink operatively connected to said crank, la

power-erwan, 4rotary shalt, .means fco'rlnectin'g saicl link to said flastimentioned shaft and fp'ermlttinglimited .-rotationzef .etui :shaft :relative 'fte said Alink 'and spring means *for 'rocki'n'g said flrst mentioned shaft and `actuating "said link relative to isaid'powerdrivenfsharft.

2. `In `afcastin'g machine `having a 'mold yCallant- -ed `to "be opened ffor theremoval of 'tl'ie fcastings and 'a 1valve "for controlling the fop'ening vand fclos- @ing of said mold, the combination fof 1a frockf'shsfft Afor'operating said valve, lafcran'k on'saidfshait, a llink 'operatively `'connected ito `said crank. --a power-driven, shaft, me'ans connecting said llink to sa'd "last melitio'led Skilift and Epermitting limited rotationfoi fsail shaft relative to .locking y.said kroel: 'shaft fin fone position against f movementbyisainspring' ns.

3fm a roasting machine ihaving relatively ymovable l'mold members adapted f|70 be sep'a'riite'i 'for the removal l`of the castings, 'a shaft. Fmeans for turning issie shaft fits axis,

on `said shaft, toggle members 'operatively :feari- =nee`ting 'said Vmail; itt one -o-f :said m'o'le finenibers toactuate l'the lsame to and from 'closed 'said toggle lmembers being fiisposed finV sbstan'" tial alignment with `Aother -vwhen 'the mold is 4closed, "means vio'r eiee'ting 'from' movable fmeld fmemoer when in `the Improvement `which -wmprl ses' ja j "d e@ -r of After leitetnismo4 :said V'irren-- onfsaid saidtoggle members being disposed in substantial alignmentwith eachother when the. mold is closed, means for ejecting castings, from said mold, a spring-pressed hammer mountedon the mold for actuating said ejecting means, an arm for Aactuating said hammer, theimprovement which comprises a second crank of greaterlength than said first mentioned crank fixed on said shaft and means operatively connecting said arm to said second crank whereby said arm is oscillatedwwith greater amplitude than the hammer.`

v5. Ina casting machine, amoldhaving relatively movable members, a receptacle positioned beneath said mold toV receive thecastings there-A from and a conveyor .for removing the castings from said receptacle comprising a pair of conveyor chains mounted in spaced parallel relation to each other above said receptacle and each havingV fingers' projecting'downward to engage castings. `on the receptacle, means for slidably supporting the casting beneath said chains and powerY actuated means for driving said chains.

6. In a casting machine, a mold adapted to form 'castings withv lugs projecting laterally therefrom, a receptacle positioned beneath said mold to yreceive the'cas'tings therefrom, apair of rails spaced to suspend the castings by the lugs .thereon and af conveyor lfor removing the' castings from said'rece'ptacle, along saidvrails comprising a pair of chains mounted in spaced parallel' relation 'to earchr other. above said're-v ceptacle and each having fingers 'projecting downward to engage the casting lugs, saidfingers being movable'along said rails. l Y

7. In' a casting machine, a mold adapted to form castings 'with lugs projecting laterallyv therefrom, a chute positioned beneath said mold to receivev the castings therefrom, `means for straightening the castings on said chute, a pair of rails spaced to suspendthe castings by the lugs thereon and a conveyor for removing` the castingsfrom said chute along said rails comprising "a pair of chains mounted in spaced parallelfrelatfon to each other above said chute andA each having yfingers projecting downward to engage the casting lugs 'on the chute, said ngers being movable along said rails and said chute being formed to diverge downward from the rails toward the delivery end of the machine.

8. In a casting machine `a mold adaptedto s form castings having, lugs' projecting laterally therefrom. a chute positioned beneath said mold downward Vto'engage casting lugs, said flngers being-movable along the rails and the casting lugs being confined against upward movement4 by the chains above the rails.

9. In a casting machine relatively movable mold members, means for actuating one of said members to and from closed position, means for Aejecting castings from said mold whenin open position, a receptacle beneath said mold for receiving the ejected castings, the combination of power-actuated means for pouring measured vquantities of molten metal into said mold when in closed position and controlling mechanism for said pouring means having a member projecting into the path of castings in said receptacle whereby the operation `of said pouring means' is' interrupted upon failure of a casting to Iengage said controlling member.

l0. In a .casting machine a mold, means for opening and closing the mold, means for ejecting castings from the mold when in open position, means for pouring measured quantities of molten metal into 'said mold when closed and means connecting said mold-operating, ejecting and pouring means together for operation in timed relation to each other in a predetermined fcycle, the improvements in' controlling mechanism for said pouring means comprising a stop rnormally operative at a predetermined point in said cycle to arrest said pouring imeans, a con- VVtrol member projecting into' the path of the ejected castings to be actuated thereby and means connecting said member to said stop to render the latter inoperative periodically.

11'. Ina Acasting machine a mold, means for opening and closing the mold, means for ejecting castings from the mold when in open posiltion, means for pouring measured quantities of moltenl metal into said mold when closed and means connecting said mold-operating, ejecting v' and pouring means together for operation in` timed relation to 'each other in a predetermined cycle, the improvements in controlling mechanism for said pouring means comprising a stop 'normally operative at a predetermined point in said cycle,-a plurality of spaced-members pro- Ajecting into the path of theejected castings and arranged to be actuated thereby and means connecting said members to said stop to render the latter inoperative periodically.

12. In a casting machine having relatively movable'mold membersand a receptacle beneath said mold for receiving the castings, the comibination of means for pouring measured quantities of molten metal into said mold when closed, a Apower drive for said pouring means,-stopping means for said drive, a pair of spaced and movable control membersprojecting into the path of castings in said receptacle and means connectingsaid members to said stopping means to 13.` In an automatic casting machine having'a mold adapted to be opened for the removal of the castings and a valve controlling theopening and closing of said mold, the combination of spring means for actating said valve to close ther mold, power-driven means for' actuating said valve to open the mold at regularly recurring intervals and release means operable at regularly recurring intervals when the mold is open' to release said spring instantaneously and thereby cause the closingof the vmold with a relatively quick movement as compared withzthev rate of opening the mold.A y

14.The improvements ina casting machin having a mold adapted to be opened for the removal of the castings,\a power-driven shaft, means operable by said shaft for controlling the opening and closing of said mold and means If'or ejecting castings from said mold when in open position, which comprise a rock shaft, means for oscillating said rock shaft connected to said first mentioned shaft, a pouring device for supplying measured quantities of metal to said mold,-

means connecting said pouring device to said rock shaft, a movable control member projecting into the path of the ejected castings and positioned beneath said mold and means for stopping the oscillation of said rock shaft under control of said movable member.

15. In a casting machine having a mold formed with a horizontally elongated opening to receive molten metal, a container of molten metal and means for supplying measured quantities of molten metal to said mold opening comprising, a horizontally elongated ladle, spaced, parallel carrier arms, pivotally supporting said ladle between them and pivoted to oscillate in 4vertical planes, the free ends of said arms being movable with the ladle into the metal in said container, said ladle being normally retained in upright position independently of the angular positions of said arms, means for actuating said arms to alternately submerge the ladle in said 'container and then carry the ladle laterally to a position above and in spaced, parallel relation to said opening and trip means for tilting said ladle relative to said arms to empty the conf tents into said mold opening. r

16. In a casting machine having a `mold formed with a top opening to receive molten metal, a container of molten metal adjacent to said mold and means for supplying measured quantities of molten metal to said mold opening comprising, a horizontally extending ladle, a

bracket projecting above said container and mold, a hanger pivotally suspended from said bracket, means pivotally connecting said ladle to the lower end portion of said hanger, said ladle being normally retained in upright position by gravity independently of the 'position of said hanger, means for guiding said hanger to alternately submerge the ladle in said container and then carry the ladle to a position above and in spaced, parallel relation to said opening, trip means for tilting said ladle relative to said hanger to empty the contents into said mold opening and power-driven means for oscillating said hanger to and from said mold and container.

ESPY G. DAVIS. 

